Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has underscored the importance of health security as a driver of industrial growth, urging Africa to embrace local pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing.
Delivering a keynote address at the African Trade Summit on the theme “Health Security as Industrial Strategy: Manufacturing Medicines for Africa and the World”, the Minister said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the vulnerability of nations unable to produce essential medicines.
“Dependence comes at a cost to lives, to jobs, and to economic stability,” he noted.
Mr. Akandoh highlighted President John Dramani Mahama’s Reset Agenda as a bold response to this challenge, pointing to deliberate policy shifts and investments aimed at building Africa’s health sovereignty.
He explained that industrialising health production would not only safeguard lives but also stimulate economic growth and create jobs, positioning Africa as a global player in medicine manufacturing.
“Health industrialisation is how Africa can take care of its people, grow its economy, and finally take control of its own health future,” the Minister stressed.
The summit brought together policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders to explore strategies for advancing Africa’s capacity in pharmaceutical production and ensuring long-term resilience in health security.
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